Final regulations for 14 industries released in May by the EPA are intended to lower toxic emissions from large existing and new facilities by nearly 40,000 tons annually.
The rules will require the maximum achievable air pollution controls already used in the 14 industries and reduce levels of respiratory pollutants. New facilities have six months to comply, and existing facilities have three years.
Ground-level ozone or smog emissions are to decrease by almost 70,000 tons and particulates by 6,000 tons yearly. Oil production and natural gas production, transmission and storage facilities must reduce levels of gas methane by 8,000 tons annually.
Other manufacturing industries affected are steel pickling, polyether polyol, pesticide active ingredient, mineral wool, portland cement, wool fiberglass, ferroalloy, primary lead smelters, acetal resins, acrylic and modacrylic fiber, hydrogen fluoride and polycarbonate. Compounds to be controlled include dioxin, arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, lead, toluene, hydrochloric acid and chlorine.
The new rules are part of a series of air toxics regulations from EPA through the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. At least 1 million tons a year in total air toxic reductions have resulted from rules for 29 industries previously issued, according to the agency.
